blog update . . . january 17, 2023

On January 17, 2023

This blog originally started out to chronicle my second time summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2016. I’ve wanted to create three (3) new blogs, but unfortunately WordPress does not allow multiple blogs on the same website. 🙁 Consequently, I will be transforming this blog into a blog sharing the things I am passionate about – love: philanthropy and caring for some of Kenya’s most vulnerable and neglected children; cooking: especially healthy, nutritious food; and adventure & travel. The “main” blog will consist of posts in each of these areas love | cook | adventure. For those who followed the 2016 Kilimanjaro expedition – you can still see these posts using this link: blog | climbing kilimanjaro 2016. And for those who want to see entries for blog entries for specific areas, visit the specific pages and you can view the sub-pages.

blog | love | philanthropy

blog | cook | health & nutritious

blog s | adventure | travel

I hope to have a robust blog in 2023 and hope that you will continue to follow it!

View from Three Peaks Loop in Menifee, California showing rolling green hills, ridgelines, and surrounding valley

Three Peaks Loop | Menifee | CA

By Stephen

On January 18, 2026

In blog | adventure | travel | california hikes

The Area & Why This Hike

Set between Lake Elsinore, Temecula, and Menifee, this stretch of Southern California feels like a pocket of open space wedged neatly between growing communities. These low, rugged peaks rise out of the valley almost unexpectedly, creating a small network of trails that offer big views without committing to a full mountain day. It’s the kind of place where you can park, start climbing almost immediately, and still feel removed from the surrounding development.

Sandstone cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve in La Jolla, California

Torrey Pines | La Jolla | CA

By Stephen

On January 17, 2026

In blog | adventure | travel | california hikes

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

A Coastal Gem That Never Gets Old

Some places never lose their magic — no matter how many times you return. Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is one of those rare spots. Perched above the Pacific in La Jolla, it’s a dramatic mix of rugged cliffs, rare pine trees, and golden beaches that somehow feels wild and refined at the same time.

Side view of the wooden Quince Street Bridge spanning Maple Canyon in San Diego

7 Bridges Walk | San Diego

By Stephen

On December 13, 2025

In blog | adventure | travel | california hikes

San Diego’s Seven Bridges Walk: Trains, Top Gun & Pride

Some hikes start at trailheads. This one started on a train.

Coaster commuter train traveling along the Pacific coastline in San Diego County

Photo: Coaster Train Along the San Diego Coast

I was up in North County, so my Seven Bridges adventure began on the Coaster, rolling down the coast to Old Town. From there, a quick transfer to the Blue Line trolley took me a couple stops to Middletown. It’s a short but very San Diego walk—palm trees, old homes, and a slow incline—toward the corner of West Laurel and Union.

Wide landscape view of Black Mesa in Oklahoma, showing dry grassland in the foreground and a long, flat-topped mesa covered in scattered green shrubs under a clear blue sky.

Black Mesa | Oklahoma (#37)

By Stephen

On December 2, 2025

In blog | adventure | travel | high pointing

Black Mesa: Only 300 Feet Short of Katahdin… and About 300% Easier

At 4,973 feet, Black Mesa is the highest point in Oklahoma, ranked #23 among all U.S. state high points and my own #37. Tucked into the far western tip of the Oklahoma panhandle, it sits closer to New Mexico and Colorado than to most of its own state — the kind of place you don’t casually pass through unless you really meant to be there. Luckily, a cross-country drive from San Diego to Nashville created the perfect excuse to finally check it off.

Panoramic view from the summit of Wheeler Peak, showing rocky terrain in the foreground and endless ranges of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains under a clear blue sky.

Wheeler Peak | New Mexico (#36)

By Stephen

On November 30, 2025

In blog | adventure | travel | high pointing

My Highest U.S. High Point: It Tested Me

At 13,161 feet, Wheeler Peak is the highest point in New Mexico, ranked #8 among all U.S. state high points and my own #36. I’ve climbed higher mountains before, Kilimanjaro twice and a few peaks in the Alps—but Wheeler is still my highest U.S. high point so far. Even with those bigger summits behind me, I felt this one. On paper, it’s an 8.7-mile round-trip with 2,972 feet of gain, but altitude has a way of making even simple numbers feel different. With an average of 683 feet gained per mile, Wheeler demands a slow, steady kind of grit.

What surprised me most wasn’t the altitude or the trail; it was how mentally challenging this climb became for me.

A group photo taken in front of a large stone fireplace at Adirondack Loj. From left to right: John, Yasamin, Vicki, Steve S, and Steve A, all dressed in rain gear after the Mt. Marcy hike.

Mt. Marcy | New York ( #35)

By Stephen

On November 29, 2025

In blog | adventure | travel | high pointing

An Adirondack Adventure I’ll Never Forget

Mount Marcy, the highest point in New York at 5,344 feet (ranked 21st among U.S. state high points), became my 35th state high point — and one I’ll never forget.

Most of my summit stories begin with sweeping views and triumphant moments. This one began with rain sweeping sideways, fog swallowing the treetops, slick boulders running with water, and wind strong enough to push you off balance. And yet, in its own rugged way, it became one of the most meaningful Adirondack climbs I’ve done on this journey.

Marcy gave us no views.
But it gave us a story that will stay with me forever.
And a group of friends who found their way through all of it together.

In terms of sheer intensity, this climb rivaled — and in some ways exceeded — my experience on Mount Katahdin.

Different mountains, different terrain, but the same reminder: when conditions turn, the margin for error disappears fast.

Rusted remnants of an old vehicle frame lying along the El Cajon Mountain trail in Lakeside, California, surrounded by chaparral and hillside vegetation.

El Cajon Mountain | Lakeside | CA

By Stephen

On May 2, 2025

In blog | adventure | travel | california hikes

El Cajon Mountain:
The Hike That Hikes You Back

Let me start by saying this: El Cajon Mountain does not mess around. This isn’t one of those “wow, what a nice stroll through nature” kind of hikes. This is more like “why am I going uphill again?” with a side of “my quads might never forgive me.” And yet — I’d absolutely do it again.

This is an ~11-mile out-and-back with over 3,500 feet of elevation gain, and it earns every bit of its reputation. Short on paper, relentless on the trail — the kind of hike that doesn’t just test your legs, but your patience.

Flat lay of essential day hiking gear including navigation tools, water bottle, first aid items, and safety equipment

Essential Gear Checklist

By Stephen

On February 24, 2025

In blog | adventure | travel | helpful hints

Day Hikes | 2+ Hours

This summer (2025), I’m leading a group to the summit of Mt. Marcy, the tallest peak in New York. At 5,344 feet, it’s a challenging but rewarding hike through the heart of the Adirondacks and a true full-day adventure.

The route covers roughly 14.4 miles round-trip with more than 3,500 feet of elevation gain and typically takes 9–10 hours to complete. It’s not technical, but it is long, demanding, and requires thoughtful preparation—especially when you factor in changing weather, terrain, and fatigue over the course of the day.

Lake Hodges Dam viewed from above, showing the concrete arches and green reservoir water below

Lake Hodges | Escondido | CA

By Stephen

On January 30, 2025

In blog | adventure | travel | california hikes

A Hike Through Time, Art, and Mystery

Some hikes impress you with views.
Others surprise you with stories.

Hiking Lake Hodges did both — quietly and unexpectedly. What began as a straightforward out-and-back turned into a walk through early water engineering, subtle trail art, wildfire reminders, and one lingering mystery that stuck with me long after I left the trail.

I parked across from Hernandez Hideaway, crossed the road, and headed south toward the dam. From the first steps, this hike felt like more than just mileage.

Narrow dirt trail winding uphill toward an old rusted water tank at Daley Ranch in Escondido, surrounded by chaparral and rolling hills.

Daley Ranch | Escondido | CA

By Stephen

On January 29, 2025

In blog | adventure | travel | california hikes

Rattlesnakes, Regulations, and Ridiculously Good Views

Catching up on some hikes from 2024, I found myself at Daley Ranch Park, a 3,201-acre conservation area in Escondido, California. I really didn’t know what to expect. I figured I’d get some miles in, gain a little elevation, and—hopefully—avoid the kind of crowded trails that tend to attract hikers lacking any semblance of trail etiquette. Normally, when I pull into a packed parking lot, my first instinct is to turn around and head somewhere quieter. But I stuck with my plan, and outside of a close encounter with a rattlesnake, Daley Ranch exceeded my expectations.

The Area & Why This Hike

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

A Coastal Gem That Never Gets Old

San Diego’s Seven Bridges Walk: Trains, Top Gun & Pride

Black Mesa: Only 300 Feet Short of Katahdin… and About 300% Easier

My Highest U.S. High Point: It Tested Me

An Adirondack Adventure I’ll Never Forget

El Cajon Mountain: The Hike That Hikes You Back

Day Hikes | 2+ Hours

A Hike Through Time, Art, and Mystery

Rattlesnakes, Regulations, and Ridiculously Good Views

El Cajon Mountain:
The Hike That Hikes You Back